Method and system for conveying media source location information

• US 7,869,386 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STA Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Douglas J., Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/214,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/517, 455/519, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 370/260, 370/266, 370/328, 379/202.01, 379/420.01
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method for conveying media source location information includes receiving a first communication from a first endpoint and receiving location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint. The method also includes presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for conveying media source location information, comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first endpoint;

receiving location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint;

presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint; and

wherein presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises presenting the first communication to the user in a manner to reflect a distance between the first location and the second location;

wherein the first location of the first endpoint is a first distance from the second location of the second endpoint and wherein the first communication is presented at a first volume level;

further comprising;

receiving a second communication from a third endpoint;

receiving location information indicating a third location of the third endpoint, the third location a second distance from the second location of the second endpoint, the second distance greater than the first distance; and

presenting the second communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the third location relative to the second location of the second endpoint; and

wherein the second communication is presented at a second volume level that is less than the first volume level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises presenting the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location.

3. The method of claim 2:

further comprising receiving orientation information indicating an orientation of the user; and

wherein presenting the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location comprises presenting the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the orientation of the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises attenuating an output signal of at least one speaker of a plurality of speakers used to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint comprises receiving global positioning satellite (GPS) information indicating the first location of the first endpoint.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication comprises an audio message; and

the location information is steganographically embedded within the audio message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third communication from a fourth endpoint; and

presenting the third communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect that a location of the fourth endpoint is unknown.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication comprises a text communication; and

presenting the first communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint comprises;

presenting the text communication to the user of the second endpoint; and

communicating an audio signal to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first communication comprises a text communication; and

presenting the first communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint comprises presenting the first communication to the user of the second endpoint as an audio message using text to speech (TTS) in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first endpoint comprises a push-to-talk endpoint; and

the first communication comprises a push-to-talk communication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second communications are audio communications presented audibly.

12. A system for conveying media source location information, comprising:

an interface operable to;

receive a first communication from a first endpoint; and

receive location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint;

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint; and

wherein a processor operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises a processor operable to present the first communication to the user in a manner to reflect a distance between the first location and the second location;

the first location of the first endpoint is a first distance from the second location of the second endpoint and wherein the first communication is presented at a first volume level;

the interface is further operable to;

receive a second communication from a third endpoint; and

receive location information indicating a third location of the third endpoint, the third location a second distance from the second location of the second endpoint, the second distance greater than the first distance; and

the processor is operable to present the second communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the third location relative to the second location of the second endpoint; and

the second communication is presented at a second volume level that is less than the first volume level.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a processor operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises a processor operable to present the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the interface is further operable to receive orientation information indicating an orientation of the user; and

a processor operable to present the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location comprises a processor operable to present the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the orientation of the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a processor operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises a processor operable to attenuate an output signal of at least one speaker of a plurality of speakers used to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein an interface operable to receive location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint comprises an interface operable to receive global positioning satellite (GPS) information indicating the first location of the first endpoint.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first communication comprises an audio message; and

the location information is steganographically embedded within the audio message.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the interface is further operable to receive a third communication from a fourth endpoint; and

the processor is further operable to present the third communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect that a location of the fourth endpoint is unknown.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first communication comprises a text communication; and

a processor operable to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint comprises a processor operable to;

present the text communication to the user of the second endpoint; and

communicate an audio signal to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first communication comprises a text communication; and

a processor operable to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint comprises a processor operable to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint as an audio message using text to speech (TTS) in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first endpoint comprises a push-to-talk endpoint; and

the first communication comprises a push-to-talk communication.

22. A system for conveying media source location information, comprising:

means for receiving a first communication from a first endpoint;

means for receiving location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint;

means for presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint;

wherein means for presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises means for presenting the first communication and the second communication to the user in a manner to reflect a distance between the first location of the first endpoint and the second location of the second endpoint;

wherein the first location of the first endpoint is a first distance from the second location of the second endpoint and wherein the first communication is presented at a first volume level;

further comprising;

means for receiving a second communication from a third endpoint;

means for receiving location information indicating a third location of the third endpoint, the third location a second distance from the second location of the second endpoint, the second distance greater than the first distance; and

means for presenting the second communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the third location relative to the second location of the second endpoint; and

wherein the second communication is presented at a second volume level that is less than the first volume level.

23. Logic embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code that, when executed by a processor, is operable to:

receive a first communication from a first endpoint;

receive location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint;

present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint; and

wherein code operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises code operable to present the first communication to the user in a manner to reflect a distance between the first location and the second location;

the first location of the first endpoint is a first distance from the second location of the second endpoint and wherein the first communication is presented at a first volume level;

the code is further operable to;

receive a second communication from a third endpoint;

receive location information indicating a third location of the third endpoint, the third location a second distance from the second location of the second endpoint, the second distance greater than the first distance; and

present the second communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the third location relative to the second location of the second endpoint; and

the second communication is presented at a second volume level that is less than the first volume level.

24. The medium of claim 23, wherein code operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises code operable to present the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein:

the code is further operable to receive orientation information indicating an orientation of the user; and

wherein code operable to present the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location comprises code operable to present the first communication to the user from a direction relative to the orientation of the user corresponding to a direction of the first location relative to the second location.

26. The medium of claim 23, wherein code operable to present the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint comprises code operable to attenuate an output signal of at least one speaker of a plurality of speakers used to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint.

27. The medium of claim 23, wherein code operable to receive location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint comprises code operable to receive global positioning satellite (GPS) information indicating the first location of the first endpoint.

28. The medium of claim 23, wherein:

the first communication comprises an audio message; and

the location information is steganographically embedded within the audio message.

29. The medium of claim 23, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive a third communication from a fourth endpoint; and

present the third communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect that a location of the fourth endpoint is unknown.

30. The medium of claim 23, wherein:

the first communication comprises a text communication; and

code operable to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint comprises code operable to;

present the text communication to the user of the second endpoint; and

communicate an audio signal to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint.

31. The medium of claim 23, wherein:

the first communication comprises a text communication; and

code operable to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint comprises code operable to present the first communication to the user of the second endpoint as an audio message using text to speech (TTS) in a manner to reflect the first location relative to the second location of the second endpoint.

32. The medium of claim 23, wherein:

the first endpoint comprises a push-to-talk endpoint; and

the first communication comprises a push-to-talk communication.